A STUDY OF NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY SHIFT IN THE POST-BOKO HARAM ERA: A CASE STUDY OF DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENTS WITH CHAD AND CAMEROON

A STUDY OF NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY SHIFT IN THE POST-BOKO HARAM ERA: A CASE STUDY OF DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENTS WITH CHAD AND CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The emergence and escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009 marked a significant turning point in Nigeria’s security landscape and foreign policy orientation. Initially viewed as a domestic security challenge, the transnational nature of Boko Haram’s operations—including cross-border attacks, refugee movements, and arms trafficking—compelled Nigeria to reevaluate its foreign policy approach, particularly toward its immediate neighbours such as Chad and Cameroon (Onuoha, 2014). The resulting shift reflected a pragmatic engagement with regional partners to forge collective security arrangements and joint military operations.

In the pre-insurgency period, Nigeria’s foreign policy had been primarily guided by its Afrocentric ideals, non-alignment, and continental leadership ambitions. However, the rise of Boko Haram necessitated a more security-driven foreign policy, one that prioritized bilateral and multilateral security cooperation over ideological commitments (Adebajo, 2016). Chad and Cameroon became pivotal in this recalibrated strategy due to their geographic proximity to the North-East, shared ethnic and socio-economic ties, and the cross-border impacts of the insurgency. Joint military campaigns, intelligence-sharing, and coordinated patrols were initiated under frameworks such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), with Nigeria often leading in resource mobilization and operational planning (Olonisakin, 2018).

This shift was not limited to military alliances. Diplomatic engagements with Chad and Cameroon intensified, resulting in enhanced cross-border dialogues, conflict resolution mechanisms, and infrastructural collaborations. Nigeria began to prioritize bilateral meetings with Chadian and Cameroonian leadership, recognizing that regional peace and internal stability were intrinsically connected. This realignment of Nigeria’s foreign policy reflects a broader evolution from abstract diplomatic postures to problem-solving diplomacy anchored in regional security imperatives (Agbu, 2017).

However, despite increased collaboration, the new diplomatic posture has encountered several challenges, including mistrust, national sovereignty concerns, and asymmetrical military capacities. Questions have also arisen regarding the sustainability of Nigeria’s leadership in regional security, especially as economic constraints and internal political dynamics continue to shape foreign policy decision-making. This study explores the nature and outcomes of Nigeria’s post-Boko Haram foreign policy shift, using its diplomatic engagements with Chad and Cameroon as focal points.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Nigeria’s foreign policy has historically revolved around African unity, non-interference, and leadership in continental affairs. However, the Boko Haram insurgency disrupted this trajectory, exposing the limitations of Nigeria’s previous diplomatic postures and highlighting the urgency of regional collaboration. In response, Nigeria recalibrated its foreign policy to prioritize security and cross-border partnerships, particularly with Chad and Cameroon. While this shift has yielded some positive outcomes in terms of joint military operations and intelligence sharing, it also raises critical questions regarding coherence, long-term strategy, and regional stability.

The major problem this study seeks to address is the lack of comprehensive scholarly analysis on how Nigeria’s foreign policy has evolved in the post-Boko Haram era. While some studies highlight military cooperation within the MNJTF, few have examined the broader diplomatic, political, and economic dimensions of Nigeria’s engagement with Chad and Cameroon (Ekhomu, 2020). There is a gap in understanding whether these engagements represent a fundamental reorientation of Nigeria’s foreign policy or merely an ad hoc response to a security crisis.

Moreover, concerns persist about the consistency and effectiveness of Nigeria’s diplomatic approach, particularly in light of overlapping regional interests, competition for leadership, and fragile bilateral trust. These complexities demand an in-depth investigation into how Nigeria’s foreign policy apparatus has been adapted, the challenges it faces in bilateral diplomacy, and the implications for regional peace and Nigeria’s role in West Africa.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

To examine the nature of Nigeria’s foreign policy shift in the post-Boko Haram era.

To analyse the diplomatic engagements between Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon in response to Boko Haram.

To assess the implications of this foreign policy shift for regional security and Nigeria’s strategic interests.

1.4 Research Questions

How has Nigeria’s foreign policy evolved in the aftermath of the Boko Haram insurgency?

What diplomatic strategies has Nigeria employed in engaging with Chad and Cameroon?

What are the implications of these engagements for regional security and Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0₁: Nigeria’s foreign policy shift in the post-Boko Haram era has no significant impact on regional security cooperation.

H0₂: Diplomatic engagements with Chad and Cameroon have not significantly enhanced Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives in West Africa.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to policymakers, foreign affairs analysts, and security experts. It provides a nuanced understanding of Nigeria’s foreign policy recalibration in response to internal and regional threats. The findings will contribute to scholarship on regional diplomacy, offering practical insights for future engagements. Furthermore, it will help ECOWAS, the African Union, and international partners understand how to better support regional collaboration in the face of transnational threats. It will also benefit students of international relations by enriching debates on how security challenges reshape foreign policy paradigms in Africa.

1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of this study is limited to Nigeria’s foreign policy from 2014 to 2024, with specific reference to its diplomatic engagements with Chad and Cameroon in the context of the Boko Haram insurgency. It does not focus on the broader internal military strategies or non-state actors. Limitations include restricted access to classified diplomatic correspondence and the potential for political bias in media or official government sources.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Foreign Policy Shift: A significant change in a nation’s diplomatic objectives, methods, or priorities, especially in response to emerging challenges.

Post-Boko Haram Era: The period following the height of Boko Haram’s insurgency, marked by stabilization efforts and reconstruction initiatives.

Diplomatic Engagements: The use of negotiations, treaties, and bilateral or multilateral meetings to manage international relations.

Regional Security: The collective maintenance of peace and stability among neighboring states through cooperation and mutual assistance.

1.9 Structure of the Study

This study is organized into five chapters. Chapter One introduces the study. Chapter Two reviews relevant literature and theoretical frameworks. Chapter Three explains the methodology adopted. Chapter Four presents data analysis and interpretation. Chapter Five contains the summary, conclusion, and policy recommendations.

References

Adebajo, A. (2016). Nigeria’s foreign policy after Boko Haram: Between pragmatism and principle. African Security Review, 25(3), 204–218.

Agbu, O. (2017). Regional security and Nigeria's diplomacy in the Lake Chad Basin. African Journal of International Affairs, 19(1), 67–82.

Ekhomu, O. (2020). Boko Haram: Security considerations and policy implications. Lagos: Smek Security Consultants.

Olonisakin, F. (2018). Nigeria and regional security architecture: The case of the MNJTF. Journal of African Peace and Security, 4(2), 33–47.

Onuoha, F. (2014). The regional dimensions of Nigeria’s insurgency. Institute for Security Studies Paper, 235, 1–12.